The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-07-06
TRUE TO HIS TRUST.
BY JAMES FRANKLIN Fits.


Symington. For almost fifty years no face
and fsure were better known upon the
streets of this great city than his; and his
daily life. his kind, winning demeanor, and
his frequent charities, caused his name al
ways to be spoken with respect and esteem.
At the time of which | am about TO write he
was III his siXtieth year. His form was
still erect and his step elastic. His face
was n perfect index OF the excellence OF
his character and the greatness OF his heart,
as we'll as of the vigorous intellect of the
accomplished man of business. | do not
wish to overdraw this picture, but l must
finish it with the remark that was often
made by his friends and admirers-that
Mr.. Symington came as near being n
perfect character as was permitted to hui
manity.
Perhaps l am partial; but that is natural.
He was my benefactor; to his kindness is
due all that / have become in life. Left a
penniless orphan, my home at the age or
eight was in a charitable institution of
which he was a director. something's
shall never know what-attracted his atten-
ton TO me, among the two hundred in
mates, upon one of his frequent visits.
His inquiries about me were soon followed
by my transfer to his own house. believe
1 was not adopted, in the formal sense in
my own name, Lambert Wade but | was
an inmate of my patrons house, and was
never made TO feel that | was dependent
upon his bounty. His wife had died some
years before, leaving an infant daughter,
Mildred, who was six years younger than
myself. maiden sister had the care of
his house, and we four, with the servants,
made the household. Later on, another
member was added to it, who will presently
be introduced.
Time had passed until I was seven
teen years old. | had attended the
graded schools, graduating in the ac-
ademc department with some honor.
The winter following found me
fully installed in Mr.. Symingtons
Office as his clerk and assistant. He carried
on a large real estate and loan business,
which it was said his great capacity had
doubled within the last fifteen years.
Aside from the skilled part of the work,
there were large ledgers to keep, letters to
write, and much clerical labor to do. All
this he had usually attended to himself,
for the reason that he could not find a
clerk who exactly suited him. Many were
tried, and after trial were kindly dis
missed. 1t seemed TO me at this time that
he was too exacting in this matter; but
better insight into his ways led me to
different opinion. Next after honorable
dealing and industry (as he told me with
his own lips, one day. his great success in
business was due to care and precision IN
all its methods, and he could not bear
slovenly or careless assistant. IL i needed
the hint, it was certainly not
thrown away upon me. Aided by my
strong desire TO be of service to him,
and with a natural liking for the work,
speedily mastered all its minor details; and
it was a high qualification TO me to find that
all this part of the business was soon
handed over to me. and that | was largely
relieving Mr.. Symington by the steadiness
with which l kept my desk. Myrefections as
to how / could be of greater service lei me
at this time to make a request OF him;
which he immed iately granted. In explana-
zion of this, a few words about the arrange
ment of the building in which the office was
situated become necessary.
1t was a small brick, two story structure,
which had been built by Mr.. Symington
more than thirty years before, and used by
him for MS business ever since. The whole
of the first-story was occupied by the outer
and inner offices. From the inner office
a stairway assembled to a small room,
which, as / had been informed. Mr.. Sy-
ymington had used for his lodging before
his marriage. 1t was now put to no use.
From this room, without any intervening
hall or passage, there was door opening
Into store room, which occupied the rest
of the upper story. 1t was half filled with
the disused carpets, chairs, mating, and
stove-pipe which had from time to time
been brought up here from the office. My
plan was to have the vacant chamber In the
rear simply furnished for my use, so that
Il could sleep there instead OF at the house.
About the first of June of that year
Walter Brand came 10 visit Mr.. Syming
'ton. / had never heard of him before, and
now learned that he was the son OF an
elder sister who lived in q distant city.
Walter was a very dashing, stylish young
yman of nineteen, who wore the most fash
xonable clothes, and seemed intent only on
having what he called "a good time" No
one who saw him could help admiring his
upright figure, his regular features, bright
ewes, and curly, black hair, and his hearty
laugh, which had an infection of mirth In
1t. Two persons who were more unlike
externally than plain Lambert Wade and
handsome Walter Brand, it would be i'm
possible to find. felt attracted by his APP
pearance, and made efforts TO gain his
Friendship. To my surprise and mortifca-
ton, he repealed all of them. His CONVEX
sation with me when we met, as of course
we did several times each day, was of the
brefest; and more than. once he ave me a
decided snub. His treatment panied me,
but bore it without remark. | was not at
a loss to account for it. His looks and
manner showed me palmer than words
could have told it, that he was angered to
find another person occupying so conhden-
tial and trusted relation to his uncle as j did.
Three weeks had passed since the arrival
of this visitor when / became aware of a
change in the usual demeanor OF Mr..
Symington. He was as punctual and in
dustrious as ever at the office; but his
face was often troubled, he appeared
more thoughtful, and he talked less
with me in the intervals of business. Being
very little ut the house now save at meal
times, had not fair opportunity to judge
az his nephew was connected with his I'M
easiness; but 1 certainly suspected 1t. Ny
suspicious were entirely correct. About
half-past five one afternoon, as i was
writing at my desk in the outer office. and
while Mr.. Symington was readingthe news
paper in the inner room, Walter came in
and in a tone which was almost abrupt
enough TO be rude. asked for his uncle.
merely pointed with my pen to the private
Office, and went on with my work.
could not see either of them: indeed
nv ewes were not raised from the larg,
pages where l was making my entries; bu
their words came to me distinctly.
"IIncle Dlense LET me have fifty dollars.